Watch movement center second hand drive



NOV. 6, 1951 F MEYER 2,574,343

WATCH MOVEMENT CENTER SECOND HAND DRIVE Filed Aug. 6, 1947 2SHEETS-SHEET l NOV. 6, 1951 MEYER 2,574,343

WATCH MOVEMENT CENTER SECOND HAND DRIVE Filed Aug. 1947 2SI-lEETS--SHEET 2 2 ll 2o 17 2/ 7 5 Za W1 75 g 78 5 79 i g M:

IVZMQ wo u/ Patented Nov. 6, 1951 Friedrich Meyer, Grenchen,Switzerland, assignor to Felsa A.-G., Grenchen, Switzerland, ajoints'tock company Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,559 InSwitzerland April 26, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August s, 1946Patent expires April 26, 1964 8' Claims.

1. Watch movements with a central hand often possess for this hand aspindle, the drive wheel of which is geared in the normal sequence ofthe.

wheel-work. This is the reason why the backlashbetween the teeth of thewheels is ineffective and why the very long second hand follows thejumping motion of the escapement. This arrangement always requires aspecially designed rough movement which is not suitable for watches withthe hand fixed on the spindle of the fourth wheel. If, however, thewheels of the watch movement are arranged with a central hand for theseconds according to the inven tion, i. e. if the pinion of the secondhand is arranged as a third member between the intermediate wheel andthe fourth wheel, it is possible to also utilize the blank of this Watchmovement fora watch with an eccentrically-arranged second hand.

Preferably the drive of the second hand, rotating in the centre of thewatch, is effected by the third wheel and the drive of the fourth wheelby means of an additional wheel which receives the movement from thesecond drive and which is arranged rotatably on the spindle of the thirdWhite 7 I The drawing represents, by way of example, two executio'nalforms of the watch movement according to the invention.

Fig. l is a partial plan and Fig. 2 a section on the line A--BCDE ofFig. 1 of the first executional form.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan and Fig. 4 a section on the line III-III-IVof Fig. 3, both figures referring to the second executional form.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the plate is marked l. 2 is the bridgein which the wheels inserted between the driving means and theescapement are rotating. These are the escape fourth wheel 5, the wheel6, the third wheel I and the center-wheel 8, the drive of which being inmesh with the gear rim of the spring barrel In.

Between the third wheel I and the fourth wheel for the seconds 6 isinserted the pinion ll of spindle M, which penetrates through the hollowshaft l5 for the minutes and which carries the hand for the seconds l3in the center. The transmission of the motion of the pinion ll receivedfrom the third wheel 1 is effected through engagement with theadditional wheel l2 meshing with the pinion of the fourth wheel 6 andarranged rotatably on the spindle of the third wheel 1.

It may be seenfrom the drawing that the wheels 1 and [2' possess thesame diameter and that this is always the case for Wheels arrangedaccording to the invention. Should the pinion- I and the correspondingspindle be omitted, and should the wheel l2 be fixed on its spindle,'theusual wheel arrangement is obtained, Where the eccentric hand for theseconds may be fixed on the spindle of the fourth wheel.

Naturally, the one hand for the seconds does not exclude the other; bothhands may be used simultaneously.

In the executional form according to Figs. 3 and 4, the various wheelsof the watch movement are again arranged between the plate I and thebridge 2. They are: the fourth wheel 6, the third wheel I, thecenter-wheel 8 with its pinion 9 and the spring barrel Ill. The pinion His fixed on the spindle M which penetrates through the hollow spindle l5for the minutes and which carries centrally the hand for the seconds [3.

The third wheel I is fixed on its spindle IS. The latter possesses belowthe wheel 1 a collar H, which serves as a rest for a flanged tubularpiece M3. on the flange l9 rests an additional transmission wheel 20which has exactly the same size as the third wheel I and which alsoengages with the pinion ll, transmitting its motion on to the pinion ofthe fourth wheel 6. Thus, the pinion, the spindle carrying centrally thehand for the seconds and the transmisson wheel are arranged in serieswith the remaining wheels of the watch movement, enabling this hand tocarry out the jumping motion of the fourth wheel without beinginfluenced by the backlash of the teeth.

The transmission wheel 20, resting on the flange I9, is separated fromthe third wheel I by means of a guiding disc 2| which is also arrangedrotatably on the flanged tubular piece 18 and which, provided with anopening, has the appearance of a toothless wheel, its thickness beingsuch that it prevents the tilting of the transmission wheel 2'0 restingon the flange l9.

What I claim is:

1. In a timepiece movement, a center seconds hand spindle, an arbor, athird Wheel and pinion fixed to said arbor, a pinion fixed to saidcenter seconds hand spindle and in mesh with said third Wheel, a fourthwheel spindle, a fourth wheel fixed to said fourth wheel spindle, anintermediate drive means in engagement with the pinion of said centerseconds hand spindle and onds hand spindle and in meshwith said thirdwheel, a fourth wheel spindle, a fourth wheel fixed to said fourth wheelspindle-and intermediate drive means in engagement with the pinion ofsaid center seconds hand spindle and in drive connection with saidfourth wheel spindle.

3. In a timepiece movement, a center seconds hand spindle, an arbor, athird wheel and pinion fixed to said arbor, a pinion fixed to saidcenter seconds hand spindle, and in mesh with said third wheel, a fourthwheel spindle, a fourth 'wheel and a pinion both fixed to said fourthwheelspindle, and an intermediate wheel loosely mounted on said arborand meshing with the pinions of said center seconds hand spindle and ofsaid fourth wheel spindle.

4. In a timepiece movement, a center seconds hand spindle, a hollowshaft traversedby said center seconds hand spindle, a center wheel fixedto said hollow shaft, an arbor, a third wheel and pinion fixed to saidarbor and engaged by said center wheel, a pinion fixed to said centerseconds hand spindle and in mesh with said third wheel, a fourth wheelspindle, a fourth wheel and a pinion both fixed to said fourth wheelspindle; and an intermediate wheelloosely mounted on said arbor andmeshing with the pinions of said center seconds handspindle and of saidfourth wheel spindle. 1

5. In a timepiece movement, a center seconds hand spindle, an arbor, athird wheel and pinion fixed to said arbor, a pinion fixed to saidcenter seconds hand spindle, and in mesh with said third wheel, a fourthwheel spindle, a fourth wheel and a pinion both fixed to said fourthwheel spindle, a tubular piece having a fiange, supported on said arbor,a rotatable intermediate wheel resting on said flange of said tubularpiece and meshing with the pinions of said center seconds hand spindleand of said fourth wheel spindle, and a guide disk arranged'between saidthird wheel and said rotatable intermediate wheel to prevent tilting ofthe latter.

6. In a timepiece movement, a center seconds hand spindle, a hollowshaft traversed by said center seconds hand spindle, a center wheelfixed to said hollow shaft, an arbor, a third wheel and pinion fixed tosaid arbor and engaged by said center wheel, a pinion fixed to saidcenter seconds hand spindle, and in mesh with said third wheel, a fourthwheel spindle, a fourth wheel and a pinion both fixed to said fourthwheel spindle, a tubular piece having a flange, supported on said arbor,a rotatable intermediate wheel resting on said flange of said tubularpiece and meshing -with the pinions of said center seconds hand spindleand of said fourth wheel spindle, and a guide disk arranged between saidthird wheel and said rotatable intermediate wheel to prevent tilting ofthe latter.

7. In a 'timepiecemovement, a center seconds hand spindle, an arbor, athird Wheel and pinion fixed to said arbor, a pinion fixed to saidcenter seconds hand spindle, and in mesh with said third wheel, a fourthwheel spindle, a fourth wheel and a pinion both fixed to said fourthwheel spindle, a tubular piece having a flange mounted on said arbor, arotatable intermediate wheel resting with its one face on said flange ofsaid tubular piece and meshing with the pinions of said center secondshand spindle and of said fourth wheel spindle, and a guide disk arrangedbetween said third wheel and said rotatable intermediate wheel and incontact with the other face of the latter.

8. In a timepiece movement a center seconds hand spindle, a hollow shafttraversed by said center seconds hand spindle, a center wheel fixed tosaid hollow shaft, an arbor, a third wheel and pinion fixed to saidarbor and engaged by said center wheel, a pinion fixed to said centerseconds hand spindle, and in mesh with said third wheel, a fourth wheelspindle, a fourth wheel and a pinion both fixed to said fourth wheelspindle, a tu- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,192,272 Puthod Mar. 5, 1940FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7 214,434 Switzerland July 16, 1941Switzerland Jan. 5, 1942

